Attending Church or Encountering God? (The Holy Spirit Series, Pt. 6) | ...

My guest speaker of the week, Francis Chan.

Email me for FREE spiritual or nutritional advice at: LoraJET@rocketmail.com

"....But Don't Stay Alone Forever" MUCH Easier Said Than Done!

 

"BUT DON"T STAY ALONE FOREVER", starts near the beginning of this Relevant article.

I hear this a lot, and while they mean well, I find it quite presumptuous that it's assumed a person can easy-peasy join and be accepted into any group or community they want--with open arms!

UH, NOT SO.

I find it extremely difficult to find real community, a group, a tribe, a team, of fellow spiritual kindred spirits on this planet. I either get rejected by being ignored (someone once said, when you find great inspiring holy people, unfortunately, they are too busy to spend any time with you--so true!), or I witness a lot of sacrilegious and blasphemous people within the group that I leave that darkness.

The bible states in Matthew 7:13-14: Jesus says, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." 

Proof that it's SO HARD to find those few who are truly righteous. 

By the way, I will be blog posting a series next week from a "guest speaker" on how to really notice those righteous few. The litmus test to make sure you are really in a group of people where you can grow spiritually in your walk with God. The type of people to truly inspire you to get closer to Him. The genuinely Holy Spirit-filled.

And my search is still on to find such a group. The group won't be found as a whole in ANY church parish. A church house is possibly the answer...but I am planning on joining a Christian Catholic bible and book group at my parish starting up in October, so who knows? Maybe this will be the one.

Stay tuned....

Email me for FREE spiritual or nutritional advice at: LoraJET@rocketmail.com

No Excuses

I want to mention a very common excuse Christians use in order to not be a true disciple and spread the Word.

Christians tend to do two extremes: 

1. We don't mention God at all, and no one (or very few), outside of fellow Christians, don't know we are Christian.

2. We are overbearing, shoving Jesus down people's throats.

I think most Christians fear doing #2 so much, they cower under #1, as an excuse not to talk about faith at all.

But there should be no excuses. Actually, talking about your faith life should be no different than when people talk about their life interests, and passions.

For instance, at work it's quite common for co-workers or bosses to ask you after the weekend, or a vacation, "How was it?" "What did you do?" Instead of saying something that doesn't really have to do with faith, tell them what you did that is faith-based that you did, like for example, "I started a Bible study." Or, "I discovered a great way to pray throughout the day". Or "I started going to a new church." Say it with enthusiasm! It's perfectly OK to say that. You are not "preaching" to them, but simply answering their question (if they don't like the answer, they won't ask you again).

This way, you are not being silent about God, and you are not being pushy about God. You are just giving witness in how you live your life. 

Everyone in your life--work, social activities, etc.--should know you are a Christian. That alone is witness, but don't be scared in going beyond that by taking the next step:

If someone asks what you did, or what you are going to do, mention your faith life.

Here are some additional things about discipleship:

4 Things We Get Wrong About Discipleship

Email me for FREE spiritual or nutritional advice at: LoraJET@rocketmail.com

Don't Expect to Find Your "Philadelphia" Church

I agree with this article....It's too easy to act spiritually high and mighty, judging churches. However, when there are SO MANY issues within a church, to the point where you are not growing--or worse--it causes you to stumble in your walk with Christ, don't just complain, abandon it! I recently left a church parish a few months ago, mainly because it was so liberal....

Look for a church where you are fed spiritually, however don't expect to find your "Philadelphia Church", like I admittedly had started doing; although it's possible to find such a church parish, try to help improve on the parish you attend now, if the issues aren't major and many.

The church I attend presently is still very new to me, but I do see myself growing there spiritually. It definitely doesn't make me stumble, like my past church could have.

If time allows, join a group or volunteer at your church to get to know your parish better, and help them in a positive way. 

Know the issues of your church parish so you can help be a problem-solver, and not just a problem-judger.

Email me for FREE spiritual or nutritional advice at: LoraJET@rocketmail.com

Being Single Minded

This article below is for me! 

I am well into adulthood, happily single--and want to stay that way. I agree with the article in that singleness should not be just accepted in the church, but also be celebrated! 

It's unfortunate that unless a person is journeying toward becoming a nun, monk, priest, or other celibate religious life, they are looking to get married. 

Some of us choose none of the above--and quite happy and content being that way...The way Jesus was.

Read this wonderful article:

Being Single Minded

Email me for FREE spiritual or nutritional advice at: LoraJET@rocketmail.com

The Saints and Their Feast Days

"During the first 1,000 years of the Christian Church, there were many saints who loved animals. They lived with them, rescued them, nursed them and saved them from hunters. In turn, many saints were helped by animals." 

From the website: Catholic Concern for Animals:

The Saints and Their Feast Days

Cruelty-Free Women Polka Dot Newsboy Hats w/ Metallic Accents & Bow!

I purchased these 3 cool and very feminine hats from Amazon! It arrived quickly and best of all, they are cruelty-free! I'll wear them especially when I go to church.

• 60% Cotton, 40% Polyester
• Best Fit From 21 1/2"-22 1/2" Head Circumference (Hat Size 6 7/8 - 7 1/8)
• 3" x 2 1/4" Bow on the Left Side of the Hat
• 2" Wide Visor

Gathering in Community - Joining the Circle

I attended an October 24th meet at my church called, Gathering in the Community - Joining the Circle. It's about seeking a smaller group within the large church congregation community with whom to make connections and for spiritual development.

Before the gathering, we were emailed notes to prepare for the meeting. One such notice was to bring a small item representing who we are.

Above, is what I brought. I've been collecting bookmarks since the 1970's, now having about 275 bookmarks from all over the world. But sometimes I make them, like the one above. Bookmarks is a special collection of mine and the longest collection of 3 things I collect.

Also, I decided to mention what pretty much sums up who I am as a person, what I most talk about and what I most study/read about. To know that I'm a pagan and a vegan is to already know a lot about me. So I was very proud to show this bookmark off. I had just made it the night before the gathering!

Also, I met a fellow vegan there! Out of about 12 of us, there are 2 vegans so far.

Charles Fillmore: 19th Century Strict Vegetarian

Charles Sherlock Fillmore (August 22, 1854 – July 5, 1948) founded Unity, a church within the New Thought movement, with his wife, Myrtle Page Fillmore, in 1889. He became known as an American mystic for his contributions to spiritualist interpretations of Biblical scripture.

Charles and Myrtle both had health problems and turned to some new ideas which they believed helped to improve these health issues. Their beliefs are centered around two basic propositions: (1) God is good. (2) God is available; in fact, God is in you. About a year after the Fillmores started the magazine Modern Thought, they had the inspiration that if God is what they thought--the principle of love and intelligence, the source of all good--God is wherever needed. 

Both Charles and Myrtle became strict vegetarians in the 1890s, long before the practice caught on in the West. The Fillmores' nutritional convictions were based on their spiritual beliefs. Charles Fillmore was an ethical vegetarian who did not eat animal flesh. He also refused to wear leather and fur.

For over forty years, from the late nineteenth century into the 1930's, Charles Fillmore wrote passionately about the physical, mental, social, and spiritual harmfulness of eating animal foods, and the necessity of a plant-based diet for anyone serious about developing spiritual maturity and contributing to world peace. He and Myrtle were conscientious vegetarians and encouraged their students to be so. 

There was once a village called Unity Village, where it would be a recreational place for Unity workers and in the future, it would develop into a spot where unity people from all parts of the world may come and commune with nature and study Unity principles.

A Unity Inn lunch menu from 1916 included:

vegetable broth

nut loaf

cucumber 

salad

rice peach pudding

rhubarb sauce

fruits

A dinner menu included:

soup

fried eggplant

browned potatoes

cabbage

stewed tomatoes

salads

desserts

In his later years, Fillmore felt so young that he thought that he might be physically immortal, as well as believing that he might be the reincarnation of Paul of Tarsus. 

Mason Bee Homes and Gold Certification

My church has an official Backyard Habitat (Gold) Certification. We just received the Gold certification early this year.

 

One of the ways one can get certified is to have (among many other things required) Mason Bee Homes. I had never heard of Mason Bee Homes so I Googled it to find out what they looked like before I searched to find ours on the church grounds. As you can see below, there is more shelf space to the left and right of the church to have even more Mason Bee Homes; maybe we'll get more soon.

Click on photo for larger image.

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The church's Gold stamp of approval!

 

 

 

 

 

As I was taking photos, I noticed a bee so took pictures of him. Too bad I didn't have my bigger and better camera with me as the image of the bee would have come out much sharper up close.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was taken near my home. I think it's awesome the owner would rather cut holes in the wooden fence than break the tree's branches--loves it!

 

 

 

I've asked to be on the mailing list as a volunteer to help maintain the church's Certified Habitat. I'm really excited about it and can't wait to participate in the program!

 

Animal Chaplain Program

More than 60 percent of households in the U.S. have a companion animal, and many of the people living with those animals attend church services regularly, but only a small percentage of churches serve animals and their caretakers. Ahwatukee Foothills residents Kris and Craig Haley had an idea.

Kris and Craig had spent years working with animal advocate groups. Over the years they both had an awakening to the thought that their animals and all animals they were meeting had a spirit. They became aware that people often have a very spiritual connection with their companion animals but that connection isn’t often officially recognized by churches. So they made a call to Emerson Theological Institute. The director of the school listened to their idea for a course about animals. In the course of studying for their own doctorate, the Haleys developed a Department of Humane Religious Studies for the school. The main department is the Animal Chaplain Program. Kris and Craig are both ordained animal chaplains and since the formation of the program more than 25 students have graduated.

The ministry is more geared toward supporting the people who take care of the animals than the animals. The animals are the teachers but the humans sometimes need support.

The program is a three-module program. The second module is the one Craig focuses on in his own ministry, bereavement. In addition to bereavement the Haleys take prayer requests, offer veterinary hospital and hospice support, conduct memorial, remembrance or life celebration ceremonies, conduct naming and adopting ceremonies, and do animal blessings. As chaplains, the Haleys serve various religious communities and churches and animal adoption events to provide prayer, grief circles, classes and workshops online.

The Haleys oversee the Department of Humane Religious Studies at Emerson Theological Institute. The Animal Chaplain program is completely online. For more information on the church, visit www.onevoiceministry.com.

Creative Living Fellowship Church in Phoenix decided to recognize two animal chaplains as members of the church’s ecclesiastical team. There chaplains are available for members of the church looking for help with issues dealing with their companion animals. For more information on the church, visit creativelivingfellowship.com.

Spiral Scouts

Founded in 1999 in Index, Wash., the Spiral Scouts was initially conceived as the youth group for the Aquarian Tabernacle Church (ATC). The ATC is the first Wiccan church to receive full legal status.

But when the Spiral Scouts began a national expansion in 2001, the organization avoided rigid identification with any one particular faith. Though open about its basis in pagan beliefs and practices, Spiral Scouts is described more as a program for girls and boys of minority faiths working, growing and learning together. They are a variety of spiritual people who don’t necessarily identify themselves with a certain group.

The Spiral Scouts organization has now spread to 20 states, Canada and Europe. Currently, 127 different groups have been chartered, ranging in age from preschoolers to teenagers to parents. Groups can be structured in two ways: as a “hearth,” which is composed of a single family, or as a “circle,” which has a wider membership.

Spiral Scouts is very similar to mainstream scouting organizations. Members wear uniforms, attend monthly meetings, camp and learn wilderness skills. They perform community service and earn merit badges in subjects ranging from sculpture to ecology and nutrition. The organizational structure of the group is also comparable to its better-known counterparts, with different levels of membership corresponding to a child’s age. Youngsters aged 3 to 6 are known as Fireflies and those aged 9 to 13 are termed Spiral Scouts. Pathfinders, the highest level of membership, denotes teenagers aged 14 to 18. But where the Boy and Girl Scouts recite a pledge to “do my duty to God and my country,” a Spiral Scout promises, among other things, to “respect living things” and “respect the beauty in all creations.” Also, Spiral Scout merit badges are set up in five categories--earth, air, fire, water and spirit--that correspond to the five points of the Wiccan pentacle. One major difference between the Spiral Scouts and the mainstream scouts is that membership is not gender-specific. Each circle is required to have both a male and female leader, who must first undergo extensive background checks.

The Spiral Scouts is not about not being some other group. They are their own holistic group that exists for the kids and the families.

Did John the Baptist Really Eat Locusts and Wild Honey?

There's a longstanding confusion in the etymological origin of the word locust. Locust is both a bean from the carob plant and an insect. The Greek word for cakes or bread made from the flour of the carob bean is 'egkrides' and the Greek word for locust the insect is 'akrides'. The insect locust is approved to be clean for consumption in Leviticus. It was a delicacy in those days and was mostly consumed by the upper and/or priestly class.

John the Baptist belonged to a group of ascetics who believed in repentance and in leading an austere lifestyle. The carob bean was seen as the diet of the lower class who normally endured hardship and exploitation from the priestly class. So most likely John the Baptist ate locust plant seed from the carob tree.

Also, regarding honey, it could be anything from saps of certain trees to juice of the crushed dates. Carob flour and crushed dates made a good damper or sweet rustic cake, hence the word 'egkrides' in the Greek version of the Bible.

Some Church Fathers circa 400AD put forth an injunction to change the word 'egkrides' in the Bible meaning cakes to 'akrides' the insect locust, not realising that locust the insect was a delicacy enjoyed by the priestly upper crust, from whom John the Baptist and people like John distanced themselves from.

The Lord Christ Jesus Was a Vegan

 

 

Book description (From Amazon):

 

"This book raises many interrelated important issues in life and tries to clarify the spiritual facts and to tie the loose ends, according to the wisdom of Divine Love. The good news about Lord Christ Jesus being a vegan (a strict vegetarian), for Biblical reasons is expounded in this book. This book discuss in detail the interests, the well-beings and the freedom of all creatures. The main points discussed in here, from the Christian vegan perspectives are: why mankind should live to honor God, about the universally abiding laws given us by the supreme Creator, the Christian justice, the importance of Church unity, nutrition, balanced diet and related issues. The pages loudly echo the spirituality of animals and the normal feelings of all that live; encouraging mankind to choose environmentally friendly products and services instead of animal products or animal services. Every violent sport and entertainment that involves animals is denounced together with the modern day idolatry and animal slavery; urging God fearing people to actively love and defend all animals and the universe in the Holy Name of Christ Jesus now and always."

Goodbye, Friend

 

In the book, Goodbye, Friend, author Gary Kowalski takes you on a journey of healing, offering warmth and sound advice on how to cope with the death of your companion animal. Filled with heartwarming stories and practical guidance on such matters as taking care of yourself while mourning, creating rituals to honor your companion's memory, talking to children about death, and considering death and the continuum of life, Goodbye, Friend is a beautiful and comforting book for anyone grieving the loss of a beloved animal and is a much-needed resource for any grieving companion parent.

 



The author shows the need for the Church to recognize bereavement for companion animals in the same way it recognizes bereavement over human loss and the need to stop denying the fact that animals have souls and spirits, just as we do.

Through a series of short chapters, the author walks us through the mourning process of various individuals through whom we can relate our own losses and look forward with hope to seeing our lost companions again in heaven. Our feelings of loss are not unique, but universal among all people of compassion.

He concludes his book with ideas for creating a memorial service and inspirational readings from many faiths, past and present.

Familiar Strangers

Familiar Strangers: The Church and the Vegetarian Movement in Britain (1809-2009) is a book about the history of the relationship between the Churches and organized vegetarianism in Britain over two centuries.

Within the name, Familiar Strangers, author John Gilheany captures the essence of the struggle that has existed between the church and the vegetarian movements for the past 2,000 years, and his study of the last 200 years in Britain highlights the continued struggle, as well as the advances that have occurred.

For far too many years the majority of churches and church leaders have turned a blind eye and heart toward the suffering of animals, and the health problems to human beings that an animal product based diet causes. In Familiar Strangers, John Gilheany brings to light the historical documentation and the need for all of us to become vegetarian/vegan, for it is God's heavenly will for our lives, and the best thing for the animals and the environment.

In Familiar Strangers, we also see how the animal rights movement was a natural progression of the vegetarian influence with it's concern for the suffering of animals.

In 1809, the origins of the vegetarian movement were set in place with the foundation of the Bible Christian Church of Salford. The radical sect, whose congregation included local Civic leaders and the first M.P. for Salford, Joseph Brotherton (1783 - 1857) was instrumental in the formation of the Vegetarian Society, in 1847. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the wider Food Reform movement had developed both secular and spiritual ideals which attracted a notable proportion of Christians.

Among the more prominent religious figures to have shared an association with Christian vegetarianism have been John and Charles Wesley; General William Booth, C.H Spurgeon, Leo Tolstoy, Lord Soper, and even Mahatma Gandhi.

The reluctance of the Vegetarian Society to adopt an overtly theological stance led to the formation of related but distinctly religious organizations. The Order of the Golden Age became particularly influential during the Edwardian period whilst operating from prestigious offices in London's Knightsbridge. The most remarkable achievement of the forgotten organization occurred in 1907, when their propaganda was met with a change in diet on the part of Pope Pius X.

The vegetarian movement entered into a decline after the Second World War from which it was unable to recover until the Counter Culture of the 1960s eventually gave rise to the modern animal rights movement.